Team Holmatro narrowly misses podium at iShares Cup Amsterdam

by Diana Bogaards on 28 Sep 2009
Team Holmatro (NED) narrowly missed out on a podium finish at the iShares Cup in Amsterdam and won a fourth place overall. After seventeen races, skipper Mitch Booth (NED) and his crew finished on equal points with the French team of Groupama. However, the Dutchmen scored one bullet less and dropped to fourth position.

This result brought the Dutch quartet closer to its goal of a podium finish. On the final competition day, the breeze picked up to about ten knots, which was enough for four exciting races. The Gitana Extreme took the overall win of the Amsterdam iShares Cup series.

'We did well, but it wasn't enough', said Pim Nieuwenhuis (NED) afterwards. He aimed at the one point difference with the top three. 'It was close racing, so you had to be careful with points.' But Nieuwenhuis is pleased with the best team result in this season so far: 'We have one more chance of a podium finish left, next month in Spain. I know we can do it. Last week's training made a difference and was also necessary. It takes time to be quick again with a new helmsman. Now we have a good acceleration after the tack and gibe, and we work much better as a team.'

On Sunday, Team Holmatro scored a series of 7-3-7-3. The Dutch Extreme 40 wasn't very lucky in the third race. Bowman Ed van Lierde (NED) explains: 'Ten seconds before the start, we had to take a penalty turn. That's how we lost contact with the fleet and we couldn't catch up anymore. But we have had a great event, sailed well and we look back in satisfaction.'

Team Holmatro also climbed to a seventh position on the current leader board after five series:

Top five iShares Cup Amsterdam:
1. Gitana Extreme, 136 points
2. Oman Sail Renaissance, 132 points
3. Groupama, 115 points
4. Team Holmatro, 115 points
5. Oman Sail Masirah, 111 points

www.teamholmatro.com
www.isharescup.com